Refrigerating apparatus.



E. F. FLSHER.

REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2|. 19KB Patented Oct. 2;, 1918.

5e apparatus, and also forms a reservoir for a.

ERNEST FISHER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

aasaaor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

Application filed September 21, 1916. Serial No. 121,388.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST F. FISHER, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or dis-.

covered certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which improvements the following is a specification.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus wherein the cooling is effected by evaporating a suitable refrigerant such as ammonia, sulfur-dioxid, ethyl-chlorid, etc., the refrigerant vapor being subsequently, and in a continuous cycle, liquefied by compressing and cooling it. It has particularly to do with small units of such apparatus intended to be used for domestic purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide an efiicient, compact and inexpensive apparatus for the purpose stated, and one which may be used in connection with a refrigerator originally intended to be cooled by ice, or with a box or refrigerator chamber specifically constructed for the purpose.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a combined vertical section and elevation of a complete installed refrigerating apparatus, and Fig. 2 a plan view taken substantially on the line 11-11, Fig. 1, showing the detail construction of the compressor.

The apparatus shown herein is a unitary structure adapted to be placed on the top of, and to project through an opening in, a refrigerating box or chamber "1. It comprises a casing inclosing a combined vapor generator and compressor and a vapor condenser. Connected to and suspended from the casing there are refrigerant containers M in the form of coils 2 and 2*, while mounted upon the casing there is a motor 3 for operating the compressor.

While as far as concerns some features of my invention the casing may be of any desired form orconstruction, it is preferably of a. general cylindrical shape and formedof two parts, a body land a disk-shaped cover 5. Interiorly the casing is provided with a vertical wall 6, which divides it into a compressor chamber 7 and a condenser chamber 8. The compressor chamber contains the vapor generating and compressing body of liquid 14, the vpurpose of which will be presently explained. The condenser chamber containsthe condenser which preferably consists of water cooled coils 9, and also forms a reservoir for the condensed liquefied refrigerant. In additon to dividing the interior of the easing into such chambers, the wal 6 also serves as a baflie, as will presently appear.

The compressor which I employ is of the rotary type and preferably comprises a rotatable member adapted to take inthe liquid 14 at its central portion and to impel such liquid through suitable nozzles to outlets formed in the outer portion or periphery of such member, the liquid in its course of travel through such nozzles entraining refrigerant vapor at' a vapor inlet disposed between such liquid intake and outlet. In the embodiment of my invention shown herein the compressor comprises a plate 10 provided with a central hub whereby it is directly attached to the rotor shaft 11 of the electric motor 3. This shaft is supported by the cover 5 on thrust ball bearings 18; and, while the plane of operation of the compressor may be as desired, it preferably operates in a horizontal plane, the shaft 11 being vertical. Through the central portion of the plate there are a plurality of inclined intake passages 12, which open at the lower face thereof. These passages communicate with a plurality of tangentially disposed forming the first stage of the compressor.

At the outer ends of these nozzles the cover 5 is provided with an annular vapor inlet 15 which is connected to the upper ends of the refrigerant coils 2 and 2. Extending tangentially from the vapor inlet, and

formed on the lower face of the cover 5 there are a plurality of fixed nozzles 16, while a further series of tangential nozzles 17 are formed on the upper face of the plate 10 and extend from the outer ends of the fixed nozzles 16 to the periphery of the plate. It will be observed that the inner and outer series of nozzles 13 and 17 which form the first and second stage of the compressor, lie in the. same general, direction with relation to the axis of rotation of the plate, and that the fixed nozzles 16 he in the opposite direction. The purpose of this arrangement will be explained in the description of the operation of. the apparatus. be further noted that the showing of the It should fnozzles in Fig. l is not as t e appear in a I truly vertical section, but rather in a hrolren section line passing through the several nozzles in succession.

' When the apparatus is installed in the form shown herein,-the bottom of the compressor chamber 7 is provided with a body of liquid to about the level indicated. Any desired liquid may be used as, for example, water, oil, glycerin, mercury, etc., it being understood that the heavier the liquid, the greater will be the pressure oilthe vapor attainable with a given rotary speed of the compressor. Also, the coils 2 and 2 are partially filled with a suitable refrigerant, and a quantity of such refrigerant is placed in the condenser chamber 8, as indicated. Flow of the refrigerant from the condenser chamber to the coils 2 and 2 is controlled or rather retarded by expansion nozzles 19 and 19 placed at the inlet ends of these coils. These nozzles are of the required size to prevent transmission of the high pressure in the condenser chamber to the refrigerant Y in the coils 2 and 2% To set the apparatus in operation it is only necessary to start the motor 3 and'to cause water or other cooling fluid to flow through the condenser coils 8. by the rotation of the plate or compressor 10 liquid from the body 14; thereof is scooped up by the intake passages l2 and impelled laterally hy centrifugal force through the first stage nozzles 13. @n the injector principle, this liquid, as it is impelled past the vapor inlet 15, causes a diminution of pressure on the refrigerant in the upper portions of the coils 2 and 2 The refrigerant is thus caused to vaporize, and, the vapor at the inlet is entrained by the liquid and impelled with it through the fixed nozzles 16., At the ends of the nozzles 16 the commingled liquid and vapor is taken up by the second sta "e nozzles l? and impelledtherethrou h to the periphery ofthe plate, and from the plate against the wall 6 which forms a ha'i'ne ror separating the liquid irpm the vapor. The liquid flows to the bottom of the compressor chamber to lie-again used in a con-i tinuous cycle, while the refrigerant vapor iows over the top of he plate 6 and he comes condensed on the coils 9. 'lhe high pressure thus generated and maintained in the condenser chamber causes the liquid refrigerant in the bottom thereoi to flow the proper rate through the nozzles 19 and 159 into the coils 2 and 2 being understood, however, that this high pressure is not transmitted to the fluid within such coils. @n the other hand, the high pressure in the outer portion the compression chamber 7 serves to force the liquid to ward center or such chamb r *ough the passa es 12.

The angular o; reverse arrangement i n We Accordingto the provisions cit-the patentstatutes 1 have described the principle and operation of my invention together with an apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However,

desire to have it understood that my invention may be practised with other forms or" apparatus than that shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. in a refrigeratingapparatus, the combination of a closed casing provided with a liquid-containing reservoir in its bottom portion, a horizontally-disposed rotary vapor compressor comprising a plate provided near its center with a plurality of inclined liquid intake passages extending from the bottom to the top thereof and provided on its upper face with an inner and an outer series of tangential nozzles, a series oil fixed nozzles formed in the casing and communicating at their inner and outer ends with said inner and outer nozzles of said plate, a vapor inlet at the outer ends oi the inner nozzles of said plate, a condenser for liqueiying compressed refrigerant vapor, and a refrigerant container connected to said condenser and to said vapor inlet, 1

2. in a refrigerating apparatus, the conhination of a casing consisting of a body and a cover, said body being provided with a liquid-containing reservoir, a horizontallydisposed rotary vapor compressor in said reservoir, comprising a-plate provided near its center with a plurality of inclined liquid intake passages extending from the bottom to the top thereoi and provided on its upper face with an inner and an outer series of tangential nozzles extending in the same direction with relation to the axis of rotation of the plate, a series of fired nozzles formed on the lower face oi the cover and extending in the opposite direction to said first-named nozzles, said fixed nozzles corninunicating at their inner and outer ends with said inner and outer nozzles of said plate, a vapor inlet formed in said'cover at the outerends of the inner-nozzles of said plate, a condenser tor liqueiying compressed reirigerant vapor, and a refrigerant container connected to said condenser and to said vapor inlet, 7 v a 8. (t-refrigerating apparatus, the comhination of a substantially cylindrical casing provided interiorly into central compressor and annular condo ser chambers, a rotary for refrigerant vapor in said compressor chamber, condensing means 'in said condenser chamber, and a refrigerant container having communication with said compressor and condenser chambers.

4:. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a substantially cylindrical casing divided interiorly by a vertical Wall into central compressor and annular condenser chambers, a rotary compressor for refrigerant vapor in said compressor chamber, a condenser coil in said condenser chamber, and a refrigerant container having com munication with said compressor and condenser chambers.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a substantially cylindrical casing comprising a body and cover, said body being provided with a vertical annular Wall dividing the casing interiorly into central compressor and annular condenser chambers, a rotary compressor foru'efrigerant vapor in said compressor chamber, a condenser coil in said condenser chamber, and a refrigerant containing coil having a fluid inlet connected to the condenser chamber and a vapor outlet connected to the compressor chamber.

6, In a refrigerating apparatus, the commy hand.

bination of a substantially cylindrical casing comprising a body and a cover and provided with a body of vapor-compressing and pressure-sealing liquid, a two-stage rotary vapor compressor in said casing and provided with a liquid intake, a vapor inlet and a liquid and vapor outlet, means Within the casing for separating the vapor from the liquid at the outlet of the compressor, a'condenser Within the casing, and a refrigerant container connected to said condenser and to said vapor inlet.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a casing comprising a body and a cover, a rotary vapor compressor and a condenser within said casing, a motor mounted on said casing, a shaft operatively connected to said motor and to said compressor, said cover being provided With a thrust bearing for said shaft, and a refrigerant container connected tosaid casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ERNEST F. FISHER. Witnesses:

PAUL N. CRrrcHLoW,

FRANCIS J. ToMAssoN. 

